Venetian blind bracket



R. H. WRIGHT ET AL VENETIAN BLIND BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 11, 1950 Filed Dec. 27, 1948 R. H. WRIGHT E lAL July 11, 1950 VENETIAN BLIND BRACKET 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1948 IIIIIIIIIA V A III.

FIE 1U Patented July 11, 1950 VENETIAN BLIND -H RAGKET- Richard H. Wright, Cleveland, Ghi'o', and'Douglas G. Haight, Chicago, Ill., assignors tcThe Guarantee specialt Manufacturing Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a, corporation Application December 27, 1948, SeriaiNo. 67,515

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of Venetian blinds and comprises primarily a novel form of bracket for supporting the blind unit upon awindow orl'ike place when the blind is in use. Generally speaking, the bracket structure of this invention is of the" type employed, today, the

brackets bein 'customarily made in left and right formations, and when mounted upon the window orthe like, two of these brackets are utilized. to support the head rail of the blind hung; therefrom, provisions. being made on the bracket also forstrpporting a facia board, if the latter is a part of the blind equipment.

An important feature of this invention lies in,

the'versatility of the. bracket structure which has been devised in that' there is utilized. a bracket.

body which is' made of a single piece of sheet metal suitably formed, said body having provisions for side attachment to the window or other support on which it is to be mounted, and other unitary top and back mounting members orflanges enabling the bracket to, be supported from the toner from the back thereof, dependent upon the requirements of use in "respect, to the manner in' which the bracket is to be fitted to the window or other support on which it is to be carried.

In the carrying out of the invention, a uniquev feature thereof resides in the peculiar way in which the top and back. mounting members or.

flanges "are. formed with the body of the bracket,

by welding, or riveting, or the like, to the body of. the bracket, thus increasing the manufacturing. cost of the article from the standpoint of the assembly thereof, as well as the actual amount o'f'sheet metal which is employed for the combined bracket structure when completed.

Supporting brackets of the type of this invention also utilize a head bar supporting shelf member of some sort upon which the head bar of the Venetian blind is carried or supported when in use, and another feature of this invention resides in the special construction of shelf member which has been designed for the purposes of the present bracket construction in respect to providing, especially, a shelf member that is adapted to be assembledwiththe bracket 'body In the latter connec- 2. bya quick interlocking action'for the supporting? of the shelf memberand a quick locking actionfor preventing'the'detachment of the shelf member'from the bracket. i,

The present" invention involves other detail features of construction of" the-bracket andshel'f devices referred to which will appear more fully" upon'reference to the followingdetailed-descrip ticn in "conjunction with-"the annexed drawings,

in which: 7

Figure l is'asiiieelevation'o'f'a Venetian b'li'nd supporting bracket embodying the invention, il*-' lustr'ati'ng the" head bar'supporti'ng shelf" member in position as when locked to be permanently"re-- taine'd" on thebracket, and also'showing thefa'cia." clip or holder in operative position "for supporting the facia board that maybe carried by the. bracket if such adjunct is employedin connection with the Venetian hlind"unit.

Figure 2 is. a View similar" to' Figure '1- but; showin the head rail shelf member-omitted to: bring out a little more'clearly the structure of: the bod of the bracket in respect 'iTOJ'iIhE' parts: thereof which are interengaged by said shelf member when thelatt'er'is put irr'positibnl 1 Figure 3v is a plan View" showingthe metal blank from which the bracket bodyis; formed after certain die'punching and pressing opera tions have been performed upon the blank to ready the same. for bending; into its ultimate and. final shape for use.

Figure 415 an end view'oi thebracke't, the head rail shelf omitted; and looking down uponth ei. upper end of the bracket from the linev l -4i or Figure 2'. l 1

Figure 5 is a rear view of the bracket body" alone, looking in the direction of the. arrows; from the line 55 of Figure 2; the 'facialboard clip or holder also being. seen in. its .posi'tiondf.

Figure 2 as respects the lower portion or said;

clip.

Figurefi is a perspective view of'the attachable. head rail shelf memb'er with which the bracket. may be combined, Figure 7. isa view similar to Figure: llhut il lustrating the shelf member as when, applied. the bracket in interlocked. relation. and disposed in its operative position" Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View, .LpartIy broken away, and. taken about on the line 8B' of Figure 7. v v s Figure 9 is a fragmentary"'sectionaliview taken about on the line '99- oiFigure 4,.bringirig out more clearly the manner in which "the 'top mountingfiange'is' so interlocked with the" top Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line III-I of Figure 7, and is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the head rail Supporting shelf member in position as when hung on 'andinterlocked with the bracket to prevent displacement thereof.

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken about on the line I I--I I of Figure 4 and bringing out a little more clearly how the interlocking lugs on the top mounting flange cooperate with the interlocking recesses on the top attaching flange of the bracket body.

The bracket means of the present invention will now be described by reference first to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. It will be seen that the bracket structure comprises the body I struck out from a piece of flat plate stock of suitable gauge, said body being formed with the openings I '2 through which screws may pass so that the portion of the body at which the openings are located aifords a side mounting means for the bracket such as heretofore known. The bracket I maybe equipped, as indicated before, with a facia board clip or holder designated 3 having the outer holding flange 4 to engage the outer surface of a facia board, the spaced inner stops 5 to engage the inner surface of such board, the bottom flange means 6 to support the board at its lower edge, and the extension section I for facilitating pivoting of the clip at 8 to the outer portion of the bracket I, the part I having the opening 9 to afford an interlock with a projection I 0 on said bracket I. Since this clip does not form any special part of the present invention, it

I will not be further described.

Now as seen by reference to Figure 3, and also I to Figure 2, the blank of metal from which the bracket body I is struck is formed with an extension for providing a flange II having openings I2 punched therethrough, and this flange II is bent at right angles to the body I of the bracket along a line which is dotted and shown at a in Figure 3, whereby the flange II may provide a rear or back mounting member for the bracket I' if the latter is to be supported at its rear edge, so to speak, on the window structure. For this purpose, of course, the openings I2 permit the passage therethrough of attachment screws which will screw into the window frame. In the forming of the blank shown in Figure 3 the black mounting flange II is provided with a sort of rectangular locking lug I3 which inclines from its left end I3a to its right end I3b so that the right end I3b projects from the inner face of the bracket body I a distance of about one-sixteenth of an inch approximately. The locking lug I3 is pressed from the metal of the blank shown in Figure '3 at a, suitable stage in the production of the bracket by progressive die operations, and the slot I4 adjacent to the end I 3b of the lug I3 is struck out of the metal to weaken the same, facilitating the pressure formation of the lug I3;

otherwise the slot I4 has no function in the use of the present invention.

"Now in addition to the back mounting flange I I seen in Figures 2 and 3 quite clearly, the metal of the blank as seen in Figures 3 includes an extension portion for providing the top mounting flange I5. This top mounting flange is somewhat uniquelin its structure in that it is not only formed'with the openings I6 for passage therethrough of attachmentscrews for top mounting of the bracket I upon the window structure, U1.

the like, but said flange I5 at its inner edge is provided with a hook lug I1 and an interlocking lug I8 that are pressed outwardly from the plane of the flange I5, or in a direction opposite to that of the line of vision, viewing Figure 3. The top mounting flange I5 comprises an extension projecting from the back mounting flange I'I.

Thus far there have been described the members of the bracket structure that affords the side mounting and top mounting means therefor.

Reference is now made particularly to Figures 2, 3, and 11, and it is noted that at the top edge of the bracket body I there is formed an attachment flange I9 folclable at a right angle to the body I on the dotted line 0 similar to the manner in which the back mounting flange II is'folded on the line a and the top mounting flange I5 is folded on the dotted line I), see Figure 3. In the formation of the blank of Figure 3, the sections of the attachment flange I9 that are located outwardly of the slots 29 are depressed from the plane of the flange in a direction toward the inner side of the body I, and, as later will be seen,

:- these depressed portions perform certain func-,

tions shortly to be described. In Figure 2 the formation of the bracket body when the parts I I I5,and I9 have been bent to their positionsin which they extend at right angles inwardly from the body I will be apparent.

The manner in which said parts are bent' will now be set forth. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, and Figure 3 particularly, when the parts are of the formation of the blank as seen in this Figure 3, the back mounting flange II is bent, to a position rectilinear of the bracket I on the line a, but previous to such bending the "topmounting flange I5 will have been bent toward the inner face of the body I at right angles to the flange II alo'ngthe line b. With the flange I5 projecting at right angles to the flange I I, as the latter is bent on the line a the outer edges of the hook lug I! and thelug I8 will contact the inner face of the bracket body I about on the point designated by arrows d and e', in which positions they are shown in Figure 2, the characters e and, d being designated on Figure 3'. Next theate taching flange I9 is bent forwardly at right angles to the plate I or body of the bracket along a line coincident with the inner side of the slotsLZIJ. This establishes an interlock between the at-[ tachment flange I9 and the top mounting flange I5 because the lug I8 enters the slight recess adq jacent to the point e in Figure 3, and the bodyof, the hook lug I'I enters a slight recess, adjacent. to

'the point d in Figure 3, such ,recessesbe'ing' formed by the pressing inwardly of the portions 2i of the flange I9 at points opposite the slots 20. The hook lug IT has an extension Na, and when the flange I9 is folded down over' the lugs} I1 and I8, the extension Ila of the l'u'gI'I, as seen; in Figure 4, lies in the same plane as the pressed-11 in portion 2| at the middle of the flange I 9. This establishes an interlock between the part I1 and, the flange I9 for holding the "top or ceiling mounting flange I5 from being pulledfoutwardly from the plane 'ofthe body I of theb'r'acketi" In addition, the fact that each of th'e'lugs' I1, and? I8, as to the body portions thereof, lie in the recesses at e and d between the pressed inpore' tions 2I affords an additional interlockb'etweeri', the flange I5 'and the upperattachment flange"; I9 of the body I, this effectively reinforci ng connection between the flange I5 and the body i- Above is described-one of the functions, that may be attributedi'to. therpressediin DOIlllOllSZEZIl: oftv the flange i191 and shortly there; wilt be; described-an. additional function .of: the pressed in portiomv by reason. eithe -tact; that they form: depressions in the top of the flange [9 when. the latterpisbent at right angles. to the. body l. To bring; out the. secondary function; offlthe parts 21 'I- next refer to Figure 1,. 6;. 7 and; 10; ofithe drawings, also. Figure: 8, and. describe thehead. rail; shelf member. that isto be-used'inconjunction: with the mounting bracket hereinbeforee set forth. I

The shelf member. comprises a. plate 22 adaptedito liegflatwise. of the inner face of the: bracket bodyi andformed with the; outstanding hori:-- zontal, head rail supporting shelf. member 255.. The? member 213' is preferably provided with: struck up small. projections; Ziserrated at the peripheral edges thereof to dig intorthe: under side ofthe woodenhead raillor-barifor preventing displacementthereof from its positionsupported on; the two shelf. members of, the type. shown Figured At its rear. edge the.-.-mem-her.. 22. is fomnedwithrearwardly extending lock. arm 25, theylock edge: of which is designated 25a. Atitsi upper; edge; the plate 22' is formedwith three hanger. lugs 25 bent laterally from said edge in: the: same direction as: the shelf member as, the purpose of which lugs will now be shown;

.-With; ahead bar supporting member of the construction suchas shown in the drawings, it is possible toquickly interengage' saidimember with the. bracket structure previously described, and to: substantially simultaneously interlock the'supporting member in place in a practically immov able. condition. The method" of accomplishing: the above is shown best by reference to Figures 1 and 2.

ber-,.2(2 may be-grasped, the plate body 22 dis-- posed in a horizontal condition and raised: to cause lugs 26 to pass upwardly through the slots 2! of the horizontally: disposed attachment flange as seen in Figure 1. Then, by rocking the parts 22 and E3 bodily downwardly, the lugs 26 will engage over the flange l9 and enter the depressions formed by the pressed in parts 21 of the flange and thus lie substantially flush with the upper surface of the flange It; as seen best in Figure 1., and Figures 8 and 10. As the members lz and '23.. are rocked. downwardly,v properly centered in. the. slots 29,. the lock arm: 25 ridestatits 25d against the. inner? surface of thefba'ck mounting flange H until said edge portion 25a rides up the slope of the locking lug IS on the flange and reaches a point at the inner end or high end of the lug l3, whereupon said edge 25a of the arm 25 springs into the space between the bracket body I and the inner high end of the lug l3 and becomes locked in such position. Once the head bar supporting member of Figure 6 is so mounted on the bracket I, it will become permanently attached thereto and ordinarily permanently used therewith. It may, however, be removed by exerting sufficient force on the plate 22 to shift the same in a planar direction away from the flange H to enable the edge portion 25a to escape from under the lug or projection For connecting: the member. 22 with. the: bracket. l, the shelf flange 23;. of the meme I3, whereupon the supporting member 22 may be 6 interlock" means .13 and 2.5:- described*,.-sd=.thaifi. quick. assembly ofthe: parts "is? permitted, this reducing the. costof assembly offthei-units ofwthe invention; i

Obviously, when the shelf member 22,..2,3:-.is: mounted-in the position of Figuresvl, 7,18,. and: 10, it actuallyconstitutes a rigid'bracing and; reinforcing for the top-mounting. flangenli and; the side mounting flange III, which themselves mutually" reinforce one another: as respects their connection with the body I*of the bracketunit. The manner in which the attachment flange==lz9l overlies the extension 11a of the lug. l1,.a's well. as: themanner in which. the hanger lugsz26 overlie: the attachment flange I9 is -we'll'illus-trated in Figure 10 wherein the head bar or-rail support ingshelf member. is: seenain its operativeclockedi position. The portions 22 and 23 of the supporting shelf memberi may be corrugated, as; shown: at 21, for the purpose of rigidiiyingithe' plate-like structure.

In regular order of operation, the mode-crass, semblingthe parts: as shownin Figure 1 involves a bracket construction. in 1 which the ceiling. mounting flange I 5 is bent downwardly on the line-b at right angles to the flange 1|,the flange.- H is then bent at right angles tothe'bodyl to juxtapose the lugs l1 and I8 againstthe' inner. face of the bracket body- I,.the attachment-flange I is then bent. downward over the lugs I! and? I8, and finally the'shelf member 22-23 is interhooked at 26 with the flange i9 and rocked'downwardly to interengage thearm 25-with the look-- ing, lug 13, thereby completing the entire as-- sembly. Of course, the bracket structure such as shown in Figure 2'wi11 be completed flrst,.the: shelf. unit. of Figure 6 stamped out and completed by itself, and then the two main units, the: bracket structure and the shelfunit, assembled as a-final operation.

Having, thus described our invention, what we; claim as; new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United? States, is: y

1.. Ina Venetian blindvsupporting: bracket; a: body: member having a lateralcback. mounting; first flange'Hofi-standi-ng from one edge near an endthereof, an extension-projecting from; said? flange and forming a top mounting secondflamg'e bent at a right angle; tothe first flange: and disposed; at a right angle to the body member; and mutually; cooperable interlocking parts on the; second flange and thebody-member interloc inglyconnecting the! same together. l

2. In a Venetian blind supporting bracket, a body member having a lateral back mounting first flange off-standing from one edge near an end thereof, an extension projecting from said flange and forming a top mounting second flange bent at a right angle to the first flange and disposed at a right angle to the body member, the inner edge portion of the second flange having lock parts interlockingly connected to the adjacent end of the body member, in which said end of the body member being bent to form an attachment flange engaged by the lock parts of the second flange member.

3. In a Venetian blind supporting bracket, a body member having a lateral back mounting first flange off-standing from one edge near an end thereof, an extension projecting from said flange and forming a top mounting second flange bent at a right angle to the first flange and disposed at a right angle to the body member, the inner edge portion of the second flange having lock parts interlockingly connected to the ad- 7 jacent end of the body member, -said: end: on: the body member being bent to form an fa'ttachment flange engaged by the lock partsof the second: flange member, the said attachment flange being.

formed with slots, combinedwith a head rail mounting support having hooks engaging in said slots by which the support is suspended onlthe'i body member of the bracket. s.

4. In a Venetian, blind supporting bracket; a

body member having a lateral back mounting" first flange off-standing from one edge near an end thereof, an extension projecting from said flange and forming a top mounting second flange bent at a right angle to the first flange and dis.-

posed at a right angle to the body member, the

inner edge portion of the second flangehaving lock parts'interlockingly connected to the adjacent end of the body member, .said end of the body member being bent to form an attachment flange engaged by the lock arts of the second flange member, the said attachment-flange being formedwith slots, combined with a. head rail mounting support having hooks engaging in said slots by which the support is suspended on the body member of the bracket, the rail support including a hanger plate havingsaid hooks, and a shelf oifstanding from the hanger plate to directly carry a head rail.

5. In a Venetian blind supporting bracket, a body member formed with a back mounting flange at a rear edge thereof projecting laterally therefrom, a head rail supporting member com prising a hanger plate hung from the upper edge of the body member and swingable to lie flat against an adjacent side of the body member, and a projection on the said flange 'to engage and hold the hanger plate against displacement from the body member.

6. A bracket unit as claimed in claim 6, in

which the hanger plate has means at its upper end to interlockingly hang the said plate on the body member to hold said plate against vertical movement when flatagainst the body 'member, and said projection being spaced at one end from the body member to receive a portion of the plate between it and the body member so the supporting member cannot be accidentally displaced.

7. As an article of manufacture, a bracket unit comprising a flat metal body member having at a corner thereof a first mounting flange bent off a side edge thereof, said flange having a second integral mounting flange extending along 8 another. edge of the body member ata right angle to the member, and mutually cooperable inter locking parts on second flange and the body member interlockingly connecting the same'to-T gather.

8. As an article of manufacture, a bracket unit comprising a flat metal body member having at a corner thereof a first mounting flange bent off a side edge thereof, said flange having a second integral mounting flange extending along another edge of the body member at a right angle to the member, and means to attach the inner edge of the second flange to the adjacent edge portion of the body member, comprising an at-' tachment flange bent off said adjacent edge of the body member, said attachment flange and the said second flange having parts interlocking them together against movement in a pluralit of directions.

.9. In a Venetian blind supporting bracket, 9. body member having a lateral back mounting first flange off-standing from one edge near an end thereof, an extension projecting from said flange and forming a top mounting second flange I bent at a right angle to the first flange and disposed at a right angle to the body member, the inner edge portion of the second flange having lock parts interlockingly connected to the adjacent end of the body member, said end of the body member being bent to form an attachment flange engaged by the lock parts of the second flange member, the said attachment flange being formed with slots, combined with a head rail mounting support having hooks engaging in said slots by which the support is suspended on the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,027,280 Lindemann Jan. 7, 1936 2,138,502 Nordstrom et al. Nov. 29, 1938 2,267,160

McKerlie Dec. 23, 1941 

